We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Articles

Celebrating Our 2000th Pinewood Derby Car!

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On December 10, Caleb, a new Cub Scout with Pack 126 attended a Pack Pinewood Derby Session and earned the “distinct privilege and high honor” of creating the 2000th pinewood derby car in Michael’s Woodshop! Caleb’s Cubmaster describes him as an enthusiastic Cub Scout who is a friend to all and who has thoroughly enjoyed the Pack activities. These qualities were on full display as he crafted his car in Michael’s Woodshop. To commemorate the occasion, Caleb was presented with a special Pinewood Derby Car display stand with a 2000th Car inscription. Please join us in wishing Caleb the best of luck in his races, but in our book, he is already a winner!

Michael’s Woodshop is in the midst of its 6th Annual Pinewood Derby Days season. While Pinewood Derby Days is one of the most popular programs, Michael’s Woodshop operates year-round with opportunities for youth of all ages to participate in a variety of shop activities. In addition to supporting summer camp and other camp events, Michael’s Woodshop offers great Baloo the Builder and Webelos Build It workshops for Cub Scouts and monthly Woodwork Merit Badge classes for Scouts. The shop is also a great venue for hosting Eagle Scout projects and can be reserved for many other unit activities.

The activities in Michael’s Woodshop are made possible by a dedicated group of adult and youth volunteers. Due to the popularity of Michael’s Woodshop, volunteers are in the process of expanding the shop to provide space to host even more youth activities. To support the additional activities, we are seeking additional volunteers to join the team. Roles are available for adults and youth, from novice to experienced skill levels. Please visit the Michael’s Woodshop webpage for more information about volunteering, shop capabilities and upcoming events and for information about reserving the shop. If you have questions or would like additional information, please email the volunteer team at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com

Troop 12’s Fall Adventures!

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Scouts from Troop 12, sponsored by Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Herndon, VA have had quite the fall 2023 season so far.

On September 10th, the Troop 12 scouts were at Manassas Airport where each scout got to fly as a passenger in a single engine plane thanks to Dallas of Flywyld, LLC. This trip was a highlight of their working on their aviation merit badge. During this visit, each scout had to record certain facts and observations as a part of the merit badge requirements.

On Sept. 22nd, one of the Troop 12 Scouts, Ben, was on Good Morning America to show how a letterboard allows non-verbal people to communicate. That’s Ben in the front row with the glasses.

Then on October 6th – 8th, Troop 12 camped at Bear Wallow Camp at the larger Shrine Mont Retreat Center in Orkney Springs, VA, an Episcopal Diocese of Virginia camp. This was a cabin and tent camping event that started on Friday evening at 4pm. Parents and some scouts unloaded cars and set up rooms and beds and the rest of the Scouts checked out the camp. They were easily monitored as all cabins faced the 360 open pavilion. The Shrine Mont dinner bell tolled around 5:30 pm, so the group drove or hiked to the 2nd floor dining hall in the prominent white-with-green-trim 1850’s Virginia House at the center of town, passing inviting rockers out front. There was a wonderful aroma of abundant home cooked food waiting for the Scouts. After dinner, there was a campfire with s’mores, and everyone fell asleep to the sound of rain.

Saturday was blustery with increasing sun and falling temperatures. In the morning, Scouts hiked to one of the town springs, then up to the rustic, hand-built rock shrine to hear Assistant Scoutmaster Dave McDonald explain its history from the 1920’s on. After lunch, the Scouts drove to an orchard about 30 minutes away to explore, pick apples and take in the magnificent view of the fields and nearby Blue Ridge Mountain. As there were breaks in the day, groups would form to compete in heavy-duty Velcro axe throwing and cornhole. The group had fun developing the Scouts’ skills and camaraderie. The day ended with another roaring campfire and s’mores.

On Sunday after breakfast, Assistant Troop Chaplain Nick lead a prayer service in front of one of the cabins with the cabin steps as pews. After packing out of Shrine Mont, several families drove to explore nearby Lake Laura, then had lunch and headed home.

Scoutmaster Scott Smith reflected on the weekend, “Even though I can’t provide a long list of scout achievements, for our troop, I think this campout was a success. We got to spend quality time outdoors and inside with our scout sons and their families. We also got to focus more on them as we weren’t distracted or time constrained managing, preparing, and cleaning up for meals. Yes, in part it was glamping. But it was also very much an outdoor camping experience with cold, wind and rain. More than anything, I think it was a troop bonding opportunity. I’m not sure about everyone else, but I could tell that Brandon and I were both a little sad when we saw Orkney Springs in our rearview mirror.”

Troop 12 helped Holy Cross put on Trunk or Treat in the church’s parking lot on October 29th along with the Herndon Police Department.

Troop 12 is a special needs troop where the Scout never ages out. Troop 12 meets at Holy Cross most Tuesday nights from 7pm-8pm in the Fellowship Hall where they work on various merit badges and rank advancements. Stop by to see love and scouting in action!

 

Article submitted by Anne Geiger
Troop 12 Chartered Organization Representative (COR)
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
1090 Sterling Road Herndon, VA 20170
fellowshipchair@holycrosslutheranchurch.net

Superheroic Cub Scout Summer Camp in 2024

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It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… Summer Camp?!

Registration is open for Summer 2024 at Camp William B. Snyder. Book your spot for Day Camp or a Resident Weekend Camp at

www.gotosnyder.org/summer

Put on your capes and jump into action with the 2024 theme: Superheroes! Test and strengthen your superpowers as you get crafty at Handicraft, explore the environment at Nature, take aim at both Archery and BBs, keep it cool at the Pool, and more.

Cub Scout Day Camp and Resident Weekends are for rising Tigers thru rising Webelos/AOLs.

Cub Scout Day Camp

Experience all your summer camp favorites in five days a week!
Session 1: June 24 – 28, 2024
Session 2: July 8 – 12, 2024

Cub Scout Resident Weekends

Pack all your fun into a weekend. Join us Thursday evening through Sunday morning for non-stop fun from morning until night. New in 2024: Spend 4th of July weekend with us for 50% off and fun for all ages!
Session 1: June 20 – 23, 2024
Session 2: June 27 – 30, 2024
Family 4th of July: July 5 – 7, 2024
Session 4: July 11 – 14, 2024

Got Scouts BSA? Check out the Scouts BSA Specialty Week – Camp Snyder’s Merit Badge week for individual Scouts, ages 11-17. Campers can choose from a mix of outdoor badges and Camp Snyder STEM and Woodshop specialty badges. The program has overnight and day camper participation options. New in 2024: Two weeks to choose from! New Scout Rank Advancement program available the first week only.
Session 1: July 14 – July 20, 2024
Session 2: July 21 – 27, 2024

Got Camp Staff? We’re actively seeking motivated and enthusiastic individuals, ages 15 and up, to be part of our summer camp team. Not yet 15? Apply to be a Counselor-in-Training at age 14! Learn more and apply at www.gotosnyder.org/work

Learn more about all our summer camp programs and save your spot at www.gotosnyder.org/summer

NCAC Council Venturing Officer’s Association Leads Scouts to Discovery & Pathfinder Rank

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Last Saturday morning 23+ BSA Scouts participated in the NCAC Council Venturing Officer’s Association Goal Setting and Time Management course for Discovery Rank.

Then in the afternoon, 20+ Scouts participated in the NCAC Council Venturing Officer’s Association Project Management Training course for the Pathfinder Rank.

To learn more about Venturing awards and advancement visit:

https://www.scouting.org/programs/venturing/venturing-awards-and-advancement/rank-advancement/

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NCAC Scouts Bring Home Honors from the 47th Annual MD Scout Orienteering Day

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Arlington Troop 111’s from Chain Bridge District edged Potomac District Troop 439 in Kensington at the 47th Annual Md. Scout Orienteering Day on Oct. 28, 2023 at Patuxent River Park near Upper Marlboro. Over 50 units took part, 26 from NCAC, with attendance up this year to over 450 scouts.

Girls had a best-ever 22% of the attendance and also a best-ever 22% of the top (50) places, including the winning pair in the 198-scout older category, Emma T/Emma Th. from Troop 191 in King George, VA. They edged out Christian R./Brendan K. from Troop 111 and Eliot D./AJ S. from overall 3rd place Troop 647, Arlington.

Mike C. of Troop 111 nosed out troop-mates Hayden B. and Potter H. and Connor L. of DC Troop 1946 on the “super-advanced” 4.4 km course. Arlington Troop 164 was fourth overall, just ahead of Beltsville T. 1033.

SPL Ben P. led Troop 439 and, with Jonah C., topped 439’s total team-effort in the fun “free-for-all” Score Orienteering. That event also had nearly 100 adults “racing” around the forest, seeking some of the 53 different markers over 3 square miles.

College Park Troop 740’s Lazarus K./Horatio G./Nathanael J. won the 241-scout younger category, edging out Troop 111’s Will Kennedy/Jack M. and Sam B./Ravi K. Each scout and participating adult received three special, new color maps in addition to answer keys, instructional tips, and patches.

Jim Chaplin’s big 19th Annual NCAC Scout Orienteering Day (scoutingevent.com/082-2024ScoutOrienteering) will be on May 4 at N. VA’s Prince Wm. Forest Park . The next MD Scout Orienteering Day will be at Broad Creek Mem. Scout Res. in Harford Co. on Nov. 2, 2024: see BaltimoreBSA.org/orienteering for more details (and full 2023 results) and qocweb.org for good DC-area orienteering events suitable for scouts.
Photos by Stan Turk. Pictured, 1) 1st & 2nd place finishers in all three categories, all but 2 from NCAC. 2) Older category winners: Emma Tolley, Emma Thomas, T. 191, King George, VA. 3) Girls from T. 422, Annapolis (backs to camera.)

Virginia Scout Earns Prestigious Bernard Harris SUPERNOVA Stem Award

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FALLS CHURCH, VA (December 4, 2023)

Scout Joe H. of Falls Church, Virginia, became the first (and only) Scout in 2023 to earn the highly regarded Bernard Harris STEM Award for achievement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math in the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America (NCAC). According to Trisha Dalal, NCAC Director for STEM and Exploring, it is estimated that “fewer than 25 Bernard Harris Supernova awards have ever been awarded in our Council.”

The Dr. Bernard Harris Supernova Award was established by the Scouting Movement in the United States to encourage and recognize superior achievement in the STEM subjects of Science, Technology Engineering and Math and to inspire Scouts to explore the wonders of the cosmos and make a lasting impact on our world. It is the bronze (first) level of three Supernova Awards for Scouts BSA, which recognizes the achievements of Scouts who have displayed exceptional dedication, passion, and curiosity in the STEM fields.

Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr. is a distinguished pioneer who made history by becoming the first African American to walk in space. He embarked on this extraordinary journey aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1995 during the STS-63 mission. Beyond his stellar achievements as an astronaut, Dr. Harris holds a medical degree and has dedicated his life to promoting STEM education among young people.

Joe H. is currently a Life Scout with BSA Troop 150 in Annandale, Virginia. He has earned over 100 of the 138 merit badges in Scouting. He is an officer of the local Chapter of the Order of the Arrow, the Honor Society for Scouting. Joe appeared in the November 2023 issue of the national SCOUT LIFE Magazine for placing fourth in the Under-15 Age Division of the U.S. National Championships in the Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon.